Alpine Tundra and Meadows

Very similar to other golden-plovers. At rest, the wingtips of this species extend well beyond the tail, with four or five primaries visible beyond the tertials. In flight, the undersides of the wings are gray. The upperside of the wings show an indistinct white stripe. In flight, the toes usually do more...

This species is recognized by its slender build, white outer tail feathers, and constant tail-bobbing. Several subspecies occur, creating a lot of variation. Alternate Adult: Birds that breed in the Rocky Mountains are pale gray above, with light edges on the wing feathers. The underparts, cheek, and more...

In all plumages, this species is distinguished from the other small sandpipers by its short black legs, all-black bill which is straight or only slightly decurved, and wing tips that extend well beyond the tail. Alternate Adult: Back and scapular feathers black and brown with silvery fringes. Head an more...

This species is much darker than the other two Rosy-Finches. The bill is black in summer, yellowish in winter, with white feathers covering the nostrils. In flight, the underside of the wings appear silvery on the flight feathers, similar to the other Rosy-Finches. Adult Male: Blackish-brown overall more...

This is the common hummingbird of mountain meadows throughout much of the West. In all plumages, the tail is broad and quite long, extending well beyond the wingtips at rest. At close range, note the pale eye ring. Male: Emerald green upperparts. The gorget is rose-red and contrasts sharply with the more...

Of the three species of Rosy-Finch, Brown-capped has the least amount of gray on the head and the most southerly breeding range. The bill is black in summer, yellowish in winter, with white feathers covering the nostrils. Adult Male: Cinnamon brown overall, with reddish pink on the belly and pink edg more...

The largest soaring bird in North America, California Condor dwarfs even the eagles. The plumage is black with a single white wing bar. A ruff of loose feathers surrounds the base of the neck. The head and neck are unfeathered, and range from yellow to red-orange. The feet are whitish, and the expose more...

In all plumages, this rare visitor from Eurasia is recognized by its small bill, yellowish legs, and bold whitish supercilium that reaches the back of the head. In flight, the underside of the wings are plain gray. Alternate Adult: Upperparts are plain brownish-gray with thin buffy feather edges. The more...

This large soaring raptor is dark brown overall with varying amounts of golden-brown on the crown and nape. Adults have some gray mottling on the tail, sometimes forming indistinct bands. Juvenile birds have white at the base of the tail and on the base of the primaries and secondaries, forming large more...

Alternate Adult is chocolate brown above, with frosty pinkish-gray edges to most of the back feathers, and black wings edged in pink. Underparts characterized by warm brown breast and belly feathers edged in dull pink, transitioning into rosy-pink flanks and uppertail coverts. Head may be almost enti more...

This species is a rare visitor from Asia. Alternate Adult: Plumage pattern similar to alternate Surfbird, but more elongated in shape with a longer bill, and dark gray legs. Upperparts dark gray-brown to blackish with pale feather edges and extensive rufous on the scapulars. Underparts white with ext more...

This barrel-chested, broad-winged raptor is the largest of falcons and is an extremely powerful flyer. The tail is quite long, so the wingtips only extend about two-thirds of the way down on resting birds. There are three color morphs: white, gray, and dark, with the gray being the most commonly enco more...

This Asian species has been established only in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. This large grouse is short-legged and short-tailed and very plump. Plumage is gray-brown overall with rusty streaks on the upperparts. The face and throat are whitish, highlighted by two chestnut stipes that frame the auric more...

This species exhibits as much geographic variation in appearance as any North American passerine, with 21 recognized subspecies (http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/195). Adult male has upperparts that vary from a cold pale sandy-brown to warmer medium brown with reddish tones. Median wing cover more...